Systems and methods for attaching a device to a rotating shaft

ABSTRACT

A system for attaching a device to a rotating shaft is provided herein. The system may include a rotating shaft, a telemetry transmitter positioned about the rotating shaft, and a housing positioned about the telemetry transmitter. The telemetry transmitter may be trapped by the housing. The system also may include a connector configured to connect the housing to the rotating shaft.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure claims priority to and is a divisionalapplication of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/935,961, filed Jul.5, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No., 9,261,384, which is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to rotatingshafts and more particularly relate to systems and methods for attachinga device to a rotating shaft.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

For testing, diagnostic, and/or health monitoring purposes, it may bedesirable to acquire a measurement (such as strain, temperature, and/orpressure) on a rotating shaft. In many situations, a full-scale slipring or telemetry system may not be feasible, both physically andeconomically. In such an instance, a strap-on telemetry system mayprovide the best solution. In a traditional strap-on telemetry system,the telemetry transmitter is placed on the outer diameter of therotating shaft, and a strap is used to secure the telemetry transmitter.The strap is typically tensioned by a yoke assembly positioned on theopposite side of the rotating shaft. The strap is tensioned such thatthe downward force applied by the strap to the outer surface of thetelemetry transmitter is greater than the forces generated by therotating mass of the telemetry transmitter (due to centrifugal loading).In this manner, the greater the centrifugal loading, the more downwardforce is required in the strap. However, the greater the downward forcein the strap, the more likely it is to damage the telemetry transmitter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Some or all of the above needs and/or problems may be addressed bycertain embodiments of the present disclosure. According to anembodiment, there is disclosed a system for attaching a device to arotating shaft. The system may include a rotating shaft, a telemetrytransmitter positioned about the rotating shaft, and a housingpositioned about the telemetry transmitter. The telemetry transmittermay be trapped by the housing. The system also may include a connectorconfigured to connect the housing to the rotating shaft.

According to another embodiment, there is disclosed a method forattaching a device to a rotating shaft. The method may include trappinga telemetry transmitter within a cavity formed between a base member anda cap member of a housing and connecting a dovetail associated with thebase member of the housing to a dovetail slot disposed about a rotatingshaft.

Other embodiments, aspects, and features of the disclosure will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a gas turbine engine assembly that may beused herein, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a system for attaching a device to arotating shaft, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a system for attaching a device to arotating shaft, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a system for attaching a device to arotating shaft, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a system for attaching a device to arotating shaft, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a system for attaching a device to arotating shaft, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a system for attaching a device to arotating shaft, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a system for attaching a device to arotating shaft, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a system for attaching a device to arotating shaft, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Illustrative embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafterwith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not allembodiments are shown. The present disclosure may be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Like numbers refer to like elementsthroughout.

Illustrative embodiments are directed to, among other things, systemsand methods for attaching a device (such as a telemetry transmitter) toa rotating shaft (such as a rotor of a gas turbine engine assembly). Thedevice may be any number of sensors and/or monitoring equipment,including, but not limited to, a strain sensor, a temperature, apressure sensor, a frequency sensor, and/or a combination thereof. Othertypes of sensors or monitoring equipment may also be used herein. Thedevice may be attached at any location along the rotor. For example, thedevice may be attached in the compressor, the turbine, and/or elsewhere.In some instances, the device may include wireless capabilities. Inother instances, the device may be attached to diagnostic and/or othermonitoring equipment by way of one or more wires or the like. Therotating shaft may be associated with any spinning device, including,but not limited to, gas turbine engines, steam turbines, wind turbines,load couplings, drive shafts, etc. Any spinning shaft and/or device maybe used herein.

In certain embodiments, a system for attaching a device to a rotatingshaft may include one or more intermediate members positioned about thedevice. The system also may include a restraining strap configured toapply a restraining force to at least one of the one or moreintermediate members to secure the one or more intermediate members tothe rotating shaft. In this manner, the one or more intermediate membersmay be configured to at least partially avert and/or disperse therestraining force of the restraining strap away from the device. The oneor more intermediate members may be integral or separate from thedevice. That is, the one or more intermediate members and the device maybe a single component or separate components.

In some instances, the one or more intermediate members may include abridge-like structure. In this manner, the device may be trapped betweenthe bridge-like structure and the rotating shaft. In other instances,the bridge-like structure may include one or more slots configured toreceive the restraining strap therein. In this manner, the device may betrapped between the bridge-like structure and the restraining strap.

In certain embodiments, the one or more intermediate members may includea base having one or more slots configured to receive the restrainingstrap therein. The one or more intermediate members also may include acap member configured to be attached to the base member. In someinstances, a cavity may be formed between the base member and the capmember. The cavity may be configured to receive the device therein.

In certain embodiments, the one or more intermediate members may includea cradle-like structure. In this manner, the device may be trappedbetween the cradle-like structure and the restraining strap. In someinstances, a contoured shim may be positioned between the cradle-likestructure and the restraining strap. In yet other embodiments, the oneor more intermediate members may form a shell about the device. Further,in some instances, a connector and/or wire support member may bedisposed between the rotating shaft and the device.

According to another embodiment, a system for attaching a device to arotating shaft may include a housing positioned about the device. Insome instances, the housing may be formed by the one or moreintermediate members. In this manner, the device may be trapped by thehousing, positioned within the housing, and/or secured by the housing.Further, the system may include a connector configured to connect thehousing to the rotating shaft. In some instances, the connector mayinclude one or more bolts. In other instances, the connector may includea ridged band disposed about the rotating shaft. The housing may beintegral or separate from the device. That is, the housing and thedevice may be a single component or separate components.

In certain embodiments, the housing may include a base member, a capmember configured to be attached to the base member, and a cavity formedbetween the base member and the cap member, wherein the cavity isconfigured to receive the device therein. In other embodiments, theconnector may include a dovetail associated with the base member.Moreover, the connector may include a dovetail slot disposed about therotating shaft. In this manner, the dovetail may be secured within thedovetail slot.

The one or more intermediate members and/or the housing may comprisematerials (such as fiberglass) that are very strong and lightweight, yetdo not interfere with the signal transmission of the transmitter. Thatis, transmission signals can pass through the materials of the one ormore intermediate members and/or the housing. For example, the one ormore intermediate members and/or the housing may be designed not tointerfere with the communication between the transmitter and astationary antenna. The one or more intermediate members and/or thehousing may be any suitable material.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of gasturbine engine 10 as may be used herein. The gas turbine engine 10 mayinclude a compressor 15. The compressor 15 compresses an incoming flowof air 20. The compressor delivers the compressed flow of air 20 to acombustor 25. The combustor 25 mixes the compressed flow of air 20 witha compressed flow of fuel 30 and ignites the mixture to create a flow ofcombustion gases 35. Although only a single combustor 25 is shown, thegas turbine engine 10 may include any number of combustors 25. In thisexample, the combustor 25 may be in the form of a number of cancombustors as will be described in more detail below. The flow ofcombustion gases 35 is in turn delivered to a downstream turbine 40. Theflow of combustion gases 35 drives the turbine 40 so as to producemechanical work. The mechanical work produced in the turbine 40 drivesthe compressor 15 via a shaft 45 and an external load 50 such as anelectrical generator and the like.

The gas turbine engine 10 may use natural gas, various types of syngas,and/or other types of fuels. The gas turbine engine 10 may be anyone ofa number of different gas turbine engines such as those offered byGeneral Electric Company of Schenectady, N.Y. and the like. The gasturbine engine 10 may have different configurations and may use othertypes of components. Other types of gas turbine engines also may be usedherein. Multiple gas turbine engines, other types of turbines, and othertypes of power generation equipment also may be used herein together.

FIG. 2 depicts one example embodiment of a system 200 for attaching adevice 202 to a rotating shaft 204. In some instances, the device 202may include a telemetry transmitter 206. In other instances, therotating shaft 204 may be similar to the shaft 45 of FIG. 1. One or moreintermediate components 208 may be configured to trap the telemetrytransmitter 206 on the outer diameter of the rotating shaft 204. In someinstances, the one or more intermediate components 208 may be fabricatedfrom fiberglass or the like, although any material may be used. Asdepicted in FIG. 2, the one or more intermediate members may form abridge-like structure 210. The bridge-like structure 210 may beconfigured to span over the telemetry transmitter 206. The bridge-likestructure 210 may include one or more columns 212. The columns 212 ofthe bridge-like structure 210 may be configured to carry a radiallyinward force exerted by a strap 214, thus preventing damage to thetelemetry transmitter 206. The telemetry transmitter 206 loads againstthe underside of the bridge-like structure 210 during rotation of therotating shaft 204, but the load applied by the strap 214 to thebridge-like structure 210 never passes through the telemetry transmitter206. Rather, the load applied by the strap 214 passes through thecolumns 212 of the bridge-like structure 210. In certain embodiments,the strap 214 may be a Kevlar strap or the like. In some instances, aconnector and/or wire support member 216 may be disposed between therotating shaft 204 and the telemetry transmitter 206.

FIG. 3 depicts one example embodiment of a system 300 for attaching adevice 302 to a rotating shaft 304. In some instances, the device 302may include a telemetry transmitter 306. In other instances, therotating shaft 304 may be similar to the shaft 45 of FIG. 1. The device302 may be positioned within a housing 307. The housing 307 may includea base member 308 and a cap member 310. One or more bolts 312 or thelike may be used to secure the base member 308 to the cap member 310. Astrap 314 may be used to secure the base member 308 to the outerdiameter of the rotating shaft 304. For example, the base member 308 mayinclude one or more slots 316 configured to receive the strap 314therein. The housing 307 may be formed of fiberglass, metal, or acombination thereof, although other material may be used. In thismanner, the telemetry transmitter 306 may be trapped within a cavity 318formed between the base member 308 and the cap member 310. The downwardforce applied by the strap 314 may be carried only by the base member308.

FIG. 4 depicts one example embodiment of a system 400 for attaching adevice 402 to a rotating shaft 404. In some instances, the device 402may include a telemetry transmitter 406. In other instances, therotating shaft 404 may be similar to the shaft 45 of FIG. 1. In thesystem 400, the strap may be omitted. A housing 408 is used to trap thetelemetry transmitter 406 between the housing 408 and the outer diameterof the rotating shaft 404. For example, the housing 408 may be securedto the outer diameter of the rotating shaft 404 by way of one or morebolts 410 or the like. In some instances, a connector and/or wiresupport member 412 may be disposed between the rotating shaft 404 andthe telemetry transmitter 406.

FIG. 5 depicts one example embodiment of a system 500 for attaching adevice 502 to a rotating shaft 504. In some instances, the device 502may include a telemetry transmitter 506. In other instances, therotating shaft 504 may be similar to the shaft 45 of FIG. 1. The device502 may be positioned within a housing 507. The housing 507 may includea base member 508 and a cap member 510. One or more bolts 512 or thelike may be used to secure the base member 508 to the cap member 510. Inthis manner, the telemetry transmitter 506 may be trapped within acavity 514 formed between the base member 508 and the cap member 510.The base member 508 may include a dovetail 516 associated with the basemember 508. Moreover, the rotating shaft 504 may include a dovetail slot518 disposed about the rotating shaft 504. In this manner, the dovetail516 may be secured within the dovetail slot 518. When under rotation,the dovetail assembly restrains the housing 507, securing it to therotating shaft 504.

FIG. 6 depicts one example embodiment of a system 600 for attaching adevice 602 to a rotating shaft 604. In some instances, the device 602may include a telemetry transmitter 606. In other instances, therotating shaft 604 may be similar to the shaft 45 of FIG. 1. The device602 may be positioned within a housing 607. The housing 607 may includea base member 608 and a cap member 610. One or more bolts 612 or thelike may be used to secure the base member 608 to the cap member 610. Asemi-rigid band 614 or the like may be used to secure the base member608 to the outer diameter of the rotating shaft 604. For example, one ormore bolts 616 or the like may be used secure the ends of the semi-rigidband 614 to the base member 608. In this manner, the telemetrytransmitter 606 may be trapped within a cavity 618 formed between thebase member 608 and the cap member 610.

FIG. 7 depicts one example embodiment of a system 700 for attaching adevice 702 to a rotating shaft 704. In some instances, the device 702may include a telemetry transmitter 706. In other instances, therotating shaft 704 may be similar to the shaft 45 of FIG. 1. Abridge-like structure 708 may be configured to trap the telemetrytransmitter 706. For example, the bridge-like structure 708 may beconfigured to span over the telemetry transmitter 706. The bridge-likestructure 708 may include one or more columns 710. The one or morecolumns 710 may include one or more slots 712 configured to receive astrap 714 therein. In this manner, the telemetry transmitter 706 may betrapped between the bridge-like structure 708 and the strap 714. Thecolumns 710 of the bridge-like structure 708 may be configured to carrythe downward force generated by the strap 714.

FIG. 8 depicts one example embodiment of a system 800 for attaching adevice 802 to a rotating shaft 804. In some instances, the device 802may include a telemetry transmitter 806. In other instances, therotating shaft 804 may be similar to the shaft 45 of FIG. 1. One or moreintermediate components 808 may be configured to trap and/or house thetelemetry transmitter 806. For example, the one or more intermediatecomponents 808 may form a cradle-like structure 810. In this manner, thetelemetry transmitter 806 may be trapped between the cradle-likestructure 810 and a strap 812. In some instances, a contoured shim 814may be positioned between the cradle-like structure 810 and the strap812. In this manner, the cradle-like structure 810 carries the downwardforce generated by the strap 812. As a result, the strap 812 traps thetelemetry transmitter 806 preventing radial motion.

FIG. 9 depicts one example embodiment of a system 900 for attaching adevice 902 to a rotating shaft 204. In some instances, the device 902may include a telemetry transmitter 906. In other instances, therotating shaft 904 may be similar to the shaft 45 of FIG. 1. One or moreintermediate components 908 may be configured to trap the telemetrytransmitter 906. In some instances, the one or more intermediatecomponents 908 may form a shell or housing 910 about the telemetrytransmitter 906. The shell or housing 910 may be configured to carry thedownward force generated by a strap 912.

The embodiments described herein provide systems and methods wherein theonly significant loads exerted on the telemetry transmitter arecentrifugal loads generated by the telemetry transmitter's own weight.Although embodiments have been described in language specific tostructural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understoodthat the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the specific featuresor acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosedas illustrative forms of implementing the embodiments.

That which is claimed:
 1. A system for attaching a device to a shaft,the system comprising: a rotating shaft; a telemetry transmitterpositioned about the rotating shaft; a housing comprising a base memberand a cap member positioned around the telemetry transmitter, whereinthe telemetry transmitter is trapped within the housing between the basemember and the cap member; and a connector configured to connect thehousing to the rotating shaft, wherein the connector comprises adovetail attached to the base member, and a dovetail slot disposedwithin the rotating shaft.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein therotating shaft comprises a rotor of a gas turbine engine assembly, asteam turbine, a wind turbine, load couplings, or drive shafts.
 3. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising: a cavity formed between the basemember and the cap member, wherein the cavity is configured to receiveand trap the telemetry transmitter therein.
 4. The system of claim 1,wherein the dovetail extends from the base member.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the dovetail is secured within the dovetail slot tosecure the housing to the rotating shaft.
 6. The system of claim 1,further comprising one or more bolts to secure the base member to thecap member.